Isiah 1:17-
Learn to do well. Seek justice, Relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Bubba bashing on black radio

I only glance at the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau's blog, The Swamp. Checking out the posts that I have missed I saw this post about callers to WVON "bashing" President Clinton. It's interesting that blacks are actually questioning the 42nd President's value to the black community.

There are those who will stick up for him. Not totally sure why, everyone will have a different answer for it. One can say that he's comfortable among black folks, which is probably very true. He probably is very familiar with black folks.

At the same time can anyone list a singe accomplishment of Bill Clinton as it pertains to the black community? Well I don't know. It's just possible that from the time he entered the national scene as President to today there is certainly a cult of personality around Bill Clinton.

I remember a few years ago on CNN's Larry King Live, Pres. Clinton was on the program and this segment there was also radio host Tom Joyner. Joyner was there to advertise this book about helping people get into college (probably more for those in high school looking at college). We see that Clinton was trying hard to eek out an accomplishment from that such as his administration dispense more pell grants (or was it financial aid in general) than any previous administration.

Anyway Tom Joyner was singing his praises talking about how we need a man like Clinton in the White House. Sounds great, but why? For affirmitive action? For economic development? What about education? Clinton could have acted on this piece of legislation with regards to the Voting Rights Act that was extended last year from what I can tell he sat on his hands for that. It could be said it wasn't an issue at that time but I'm sure someone saw it coming in fact they did see it coming.

There are many ways to approach looking at Clinton's time as President of the United States.

Rumor has it (or perhaps it was a fact) that Bill Clinton was referred to by Tony Morrison as the "first black" President. And what was sighted was his philandering ways and the fact that "the man" was chasing him. "The man" could be Republicans or perhaps white guys who didn't want Clinton to be friendly with blacks. Either way the philandering part isn't very flattering to this idea that he is the "first black" president.

Well enough about that. I want to comment on how his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, brought her husband to Selma about a couple of weeks ago. Some have seen this as a first sign of trouble and that she gets Clinton out to excite a base that she needs in her run. Indeed she might be worried about her collegue Sen. Barack Obama taking about that black vote she needs. Of course this can only open up questions about whether she is her own candidate.

Look there are a lot of questions to be asked. If we are to consider Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States, then we need to look at the record of her hubby who used to be President. I see her bid as sort of a piggy backing to his accomplishments. Indeed I do believe her famed last name is the main push behind her candidacy.

So perhaps it's a good thing that blacks are lighting up the phone lines with more questions than love for the Clintons. And on top of that this could mean that blacks are willing to put their vote behind a fresh face like Sen. Obama. There's still another year or so to go yet, however.